On Wednesday, President Trump announced his appointment of Casey Means, a notable figure in the “American Health Again” movement, as the next surgeon general. This move follows a recommendation from Janet Neshwat, a physician and former Fox News contributor.
Trump expressed his support for Means, highlighting her academic credentials and work, suggesting she could become one of the “best surgeon generals in American history.”
Means, a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine, shifted her career focus away from surgery to tackle what she views as the underlying causes of illness in America.
In recent years, she has gained recognition on the Right through appearances on popular platforms like Tucker Carlson’s and Joe Rogan’s podcasts.
Building a significant online following, Means shares insights on health and wellness, aligning closely with ideas promoted by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Notably, she exhibits skepticism towards vaccines and raises concerns about their “cumulative effects” on the population.
Moreover, she co-founded a health app that connects with glucose monitors and advocates for various health supplements through her social media presence.
Here’s a brief overview of the situation:
Maha Connection
Means is a key voice in the Make America Healthy (Maha) initiative led by Kennedy, which aims to reform American healthcare.
In a post last February, she elaborated on her vision for the future, mentioning Kennedy’s extensive background in health and environmental advocacy as being crucial to this effort.
Interestingly, her brother, Calley Means, works within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a special government employee and has played a role in supporting the Kennedy-Trump collaboration in the upcoming election.
The siblings co-authored a book titled “Good Energy,” discussing the unexpected influences of lifestyle on health.
In an episode of “The Tucker Carlson Show,” the Means siblings discussed the negative health implications of medications and the pharmaceutical industry, which became one of the most shared episodes of an Apple podcast last year.
Neshwat, who many perceive as a favored candidate for surgeon general, faced some criticism from far-right figures like Laura Rumer, especially following recent events.
Despite her qualifications, some members of the Maha movement expressed disappointment over Means’s appointment. Nicole Shanahan, an ally of Kennedy, voiced her criticisms online shortly after the announcement.
Background and Beliefs
According to reports, Means has a keen interest in addressing the root causes of health issues, having seen the healthcare system’s flaws during her training as a surgeon. Her focus is on keeping patients away from surgery.
She emphasizes issues such as obesity, diabetes, and infertility in her approaches, and she supports the consumption of raw milk, similar to Kennedy’s stance.
Means has been vocal against vaccine mandates and the existing childhood vaccine schedule, raising concerns about potential corruption within the FDA.
In one of her newsletters related to the 2024 election, she stated that “evidence suggests that the escalating vaccine schedule harms vulnerable children” and that this needs further investigation.
As a co-founder of Levels, a health tech company that utilizes continuous glucose monitoring, Means helps people understand how their diets impact their health through AI-driven insights.
In her October newsletter, she described the U.S. economy’s “devil’s dig,” pointing out how industries profit from consumers’ reliance on cheap, processed foods.
